Whenever you need exterior home repair or roof repair in Toronto, you’ll need to get in touch with contractors for the repairs. But dealing with contractors can be overwhelming, especially when you’re not familiar with home repairs or are a new homeowner.

The good news is that you can follow a few simple steps to make the process easier, honest, and generally ensure that you get the repairs you need for the right price.

Here’s what we’ll cover in regard to dealing with contractors:

• Getting an estimate
• Understanding the price
• Negotiating warranties
• Checking reviews
• Assessing Their History
• Comparing with other contractors

Remember that the average roofing job costs thousands of dollars – depending on the project, we’re talking five figures. But when you follow these tips, you can help ensure you’re protected. 

Getting an Estimate

Whenever you first approach a contractor with a roofing or similar issue, the next step is of course to get an estimate from the contractor so you can better assess if they’re the right contractor for you (and in your price range!).

While sometimes this can be done on the first call with them, reliable and accurate estimates will the majority of the time require that the contractors come in person to your home to inspect the issue in person.

That’s the only reliable way to they can provide a true, accurate estimate in most circumstances.

Now, it’s worth noting that roof repair contractors in Toronto may discover more issues with your roof upon inspection, impacting the estimate.

But generally speaking, you can compare the estimate you’re given with information you find on the web regarding the cost to fix the particular issue you’re facing.

Understanding the Price

The estimate will necessarily come with a price . . . but it won’t always come with an appropriate level of explanation for that price.

By that I mean that it won’t break down exactly where your dollars are going. Labour, materials, equipment, etc. – all these factors can impact how you’ll end up paying for your roof repair.

But without a detailed estimate, the price becomes a black box that simply returns a number without much information about that number.

It’s important when dealing with contractors to get a detailed estimate, in other words, that can help you determine the price more effectively.

That way you can make sure your money is going to the right place.

Negotiating Warranties

You’ve found a contactor you trust, and the price is within your budget/fair for the type of job they’re doing – great! Now it’s time to begin work. But here’s the catch; not all contractors are made equal. Some do better work than others, and there’s really only one way to guarantee that the job you’re paying for is the job you’ll get: by negotiating a warranty.

A warranty will give you the peace of mind that your roof will last for months or even years after the job is done. That way you won’t have to keep calling back to have your roof looked at multiple times or have to pay for additional repairs after the first job.

• What to ask for in the contract

In addition to negotiating your warrant, you can also include in your contract:

• The name of the contractor or their company, their address, and contact information
• A detailed description of the project (what’s to be done, roofing materials to be used, dates, etc.)
• The written estimate or quote with an itemized list of labour/material
• Payment terms (time period, method, etc.)
• Responsibilities clearly outlined (who cleans up after the job, for instance)
• Liabilities (who would be responsible should your neighbour’s property get damaged, for instance)

Checking Reviews

When checking reviews, you have the remember the rule of extremes: most people will only leave reviews if they’ve received extraordinary service or are deeply dissatisfied with the results.

So reviews can be a bit misleading.

That said, over the years, a good contractor in Toronto will receive a number of strong, positive reviews that can help you avoid working with a weaker company.

Assessing Their History

If you’ve got a contractor in mind, one great way to tell if they’re the right one for you is how long they’ve been in business for.

Longevity means that the company has been delivering successful results for years – otherwise people wouldn’t keep coming back and keeping them in business.

If the contractor can demonstrate that they’ve been around for a while helping out clients, then you can be more certain that they’re a company that you can reliably work with.

Comparing to Other Contractors

Whenever you’re looking to buy a product it’s important to do your due diligence and compare it to other providers on the market.

There are a variety of ways you can compare two contractors (many of them mentioned above), including:

• Price
• Availability
• Location
• Time in business
• Reviews
• Timelines
• Warranties
• Safety measures in place for their workers (they should follow Occupational Health and Safety Act)

Doing a bit of extra research may take a bit of time but it’s almost always worth it. It can save you thousands and help ensure you don’t work with a contractor that simply won’t get the job done right.

Work with Toronto Contractors You Can Trust – Work with Dominion Roofing, Celebrating Over 100 Years of Success

You’re now able to more capably vet Toronto contractors. But we’ll go ahead and save you some time – Dominion Roofing is a contractor that you can trust to get the job done on time, without hidden costs, and without headaches. 

How do we do it? With over 100 years of experience helping millions of residents of the GTA get roof repairs or roof installations, we know a lot about roofing and repairs. 

No matter the roofing project – whether you need flat roofing (industrial roofing) or residential, new roof installations to roof repairs to roof tune – we’re your go-to contractor. 

We maintain an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. We’ve been in this business for decades for a reason. Good word backed by transparent contracts and estimates with no shocks at the end of the job are our hallmarks.

Get a quote today or give us a call at 416-789-0601. You can also email us at info@dominionroofing.com. We’re ready to handle any roofing job you need done.

Hiring a Roofing Contractor Checklist – What You Need to Know

The average roofing job costs thousands of dollars – depending on the project, we’re talking five figures. These are expensive projects that, if done improperly, can double the amount you have to spend getting the job redone. That’s why finding a reliable roofing company in Toronto is absolutely necessary. A hiring a roofing contractor checklist is necessary to making sure that you work with skilled craftspeople who will get your job done right the first time. That way you don’t have to worry about botched jobs and lost money. 

Hiring a Roofing Contractor Checklist – Five Key Things to Look for

1. Check their history

One of the best ways to vet roofing contractors is to check out their history. If they’ve been in business for a long time, that’s a good sign that they’ve been doing good enough work to keep customers coming back, attracting new customers, and just generally have been able to complete the work they’re tasked with to the satisfaction of the people hiring them. Hiring a roofing contractor is fraught – scams are not uncommon. But when the contractor has a long track record of reliable roof repairs and installations, you can rest easy knowing you’re in good hands. 

2. Check their reviews

There are tons of ways that you can gauge a business’s reputation by checking out their online presence and reviews. Now it’s worth remembering that you tend to see extremes – online reviews are notoriously either effusive with praise or rage-fuelled frustration venting. That said, that doesn’t mean they don’t have value. And besides, just seeing the positive to negative review ratio can help you find a reliable contractor. If multiple people are complaining about the same thing, it’s likely not a fluke or a bad customer – it means it’s a habit of the business. 

3. Make sure they provide written estimates

One of the oldest scams in the book by disreputable contractors is to avoid providing a written estimate. They may say you don’t need one or that one is coming upon further review (but will start work before you ever see that estimate) or provide all sorts of caveats – these are all red flags. The best way to find a reliable contractor for your roofing project is get the estimate in writing well before they start working. While things do change and estimates can at times be different than the final cost due to unforeseen circumstances or previously undiscovered issues, generally the estimate should approach the final price. 

4. Make sure they provide contracts

It sounds a bit redundant – find a contractor that provides a contract. But you’d be shocked how many people work on handshake deals, only to have the contractor renege and ask for more money or other considerations. And if you don’t comply, they may leave your roof half-complete and your whole home vulnerable to the elements, so you have to scramble to find someone else to come in and finish the job. This is a really tough situation to be in, and the best way to avoid it is by working with contractors that live up to their name and get things down in writing. 

What to ask for in the contract

Building on the last point, your roofing contractor checklist should include a well-prepared and considered contract. This contract should include: 

• The name of the contractor or their company, their address, and contact information
• A detailed description of the project (what’s to be done, roofing materials to be used, dates, etc.)
• The written estimate or quote with an itemized list of labour/material
• Payment terms (time period, method, etc.)
• Responsibilities clearly outlined (who cleans up after the job, for instance)
• Liabilities (who would be responsible should your neighbour’s property get damaged, for instance)
• Warranties on all materials and products 

5. Make sure they protect their workers

When hiring a roofing contractor, you want to make sure that they follow the proper standards and regulations in place to ensure that they will perform the job safely. These standards are clearly outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Safety isn’t just important from a humane standpoint of not wanting anybody to get hurt, but also from a standpoint of liability. The last thing you want is someone getting hurt on the job and you potentially being liable. Ensuring that safety practices are followed to the letter is a great way to avoid liability and keep workers safe. 

Hiring a Roofing Contractor Checklist Done – Now You’re Ready to Work with a Leading Roofing Contractor in Toronto

Now that you have your checklist ready to go, you’re better able to vet the best roofers in Toronto. But we’ll go ahead and save you some time – Dominion Roofing is a contractor that you can trust to get the job done on time, without hidden costs, and without headaches. 

How do we do it? We use our over 100 years of experience helping millions of residents of the GTA get roof repairs or roof installations. We’re able to help with virtually any roofing project, whether that’s flat roofing jobs (also known as industrial roofing) or residential, from new roof installations to roof repairs to roof tune-ups that keep them looking great, keeping out the elements, and helping you avoid more costly repairs down the line. 

Our business currently maintains an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. We’ve been in this business a long time and know exactly what it takes to get your roofing job done right the first time. Best yet, we always are sure to be totally transparent on our contracts and estimates, so you’re never shocked by the bill at the end of the job. 

Get a quote today or give us a call at 416-789-0601. You can also email us at info@dominionroofing.com. We’re ready to handle any roofing job you need done.

Ask an Expert: Things to Ask When Getting Roofing Quotes

Roofing jobs cost a substantial amount of money – we’re talking thousands of dollars. With so much money on the line, you need to make sure the Toronto roofing company you’re working with is both skilled and trustworthy. That’s why we’ve put together these 10 things to ask when getting roofing quotes, so you can ensure you’re getting the best price possible without sacrificing quality. 

For simplicity’s sake, we’ve split this up into general questions to ask a roofer, then more specific things to ask when getting roofing quotes. 

5 General Questions to Ask Your Roofer

These are five questions to ask a roofer before hiring. With these roofings questions and answers, you’ll be much more confident when determining if this is the right roofing company in Toronto for you.

1. How Long Have You Been in Business? 

Nothing speaks to a roofing company’s reliability like longevity. In this business, quality lasts and shoddy workmanship is quickly discovered and replaced. The same goes for shoddy businesses. If the Toronto roofer you’re meeting with has been in the business for a number of years (the more, the better) that simply means that they’ve been delivering quality roofing work long enough to stick around in a highly competitive industry. 

2. Is Your Business Local?

Roofing jobs can take a lot of twists and turns you don’t expect. Your Toronto roofing contractor may be working on one thing, only to discover another issue that wasn’t apparent upon first inspection, for instance. The last thing you want is to work with a roofing contractor in Toronto that isn’t really a roofing contractor in Toronto – actually, their home office is in Peterborough. The farther away they are, the more difficult it can be to bring them back in to fix something, take a second look, or bring in the necessary material needed to complete any additional work. 

3. Can I See Examples of Your Previous Work?

Good roofers have pride in their work; they should be able to readily supply photos and other examples of recent work they’ve completed. While past success isn’t always indicative of future success, it certainly helps to know that the contractors you’re working with are skilled, experienced, and can complete a job. 

4. Can You Ensure Your Workers Will Be Safe? 

Unfortunately, lots of roofing companies in Toronto operate with less-than-adequate safety procedures in place. This can lead to accidents to their workers. In addition to the horror of the injuries inflicted to the workers themselves (roofers have one of the highest fatality rates in construction, making safety precautions critical), this can cause chaos to your project, as well lead to potential litigation. Ensuring your roofers in Toronto take every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety of their workers is simply a good idea all around. 

5. Can You Ensure My Family Will Be Safe? 

Roofing jobs involve lots of heavy tools being used several metres above the ground (not to mention people); a single oversight can be devastating. The good news is that if the roofing contractor takes the necessary precautions, there’s nothing to worry about. Building on that all-important experience we mentioned earlier, if they’ve been doing this long enough, your contractors should know how to keep you and your family safe while getting the job done. 

5 Questions to Ask When Getting a Roof Estimate

Now that we’ve got some general roofing questions and answers out of the way, it’s time to talk dollars: how much is this going to cost? These are questions to ask a roofer before hiring but after you’ve received the quote. 

The following 5 are important questions to ask your roofer once they’ve given you a price, in other words, to ensure that they are worth the spend. 

1. Do You Include Warranties? 

As mentioned above, roofing jobs can take unexpected turns. One of the ways to account for these uncertainties is through warranties. Your roofing company should be confident in their work and back up their confidence with contractual warranties. That way, you can guarantee that the job will be completed to your satisfaction. 

2. How Long Will the Job Take (Estimate)? 

No roofer can ever 100% guarantee that a job will be done at this exact date and time. That said, they should be able to give a fairly accurate estimate of the time it will take to complete the job (barring anything totally unforeseen cropping up like a particularly powerful storm, for instance). 

3. Can You Show Proof of Licensing, Certification, Insurance, Workers Comp Coverage? 

All of the above are just simple and easy ways to verify that your contractors are responsible and able to protect you and their workers in the event of an accident. They should be able to also show certification by shingle manufacturers (not necessary but nice to have) as well as proof of licensing so you know everything is on the up and up. 

4. How Much Can the Price Change?

One of the most important questions to ask when hiring a roofing company is how confident they are in their estimate. If they say that the estimates are subject to large changes, that could be a bad sign. ‘Could be’ because some jobs simply do have more moving parts and potential for fluctuations. That said, most jobs should come out to a similar price to the estimate, barring unforeseen circumstances (similar to the time estimate). 

5. Who Can I Talk to If There’s a Problem?

This is important – there’s a lot of money involved and your home or business’s roof; you deserve to have someone you can go to with your questions and concerns. And your roofing company should be able to give you a name, number, email address, and availability – it’s the least they can do to give you peace of mind. 

Roofing Questions to Ask – Answered. Now It’s Time to Find a Trustworthy Roofing Company in Toronto

You know what roofing questions to ask before committing to a contractor. Now it’s time to identify the best roofers in Toronto. That’s easy: it’s Dominion Roofing. 

With over 100 years of experience helping millions of residents of the GTA get roof repairs or install new roofs, as well as helping businesses with flat roofing services, Dominion Roofers is a contractor in Toronto you can trust. 

Get a quote today or give us a call at 416-789-0601. You can also email us at info@dominionroofing.com. We’re here to handle all your roofing service needs.